No. 69. (2020) THE CLIMB November 5th.

 

Film No. 69 (2020)  November 5th.  10:40 PM.  Cinema 3  LUNA Leederville.

"No one likes you Mike, I'm the only one who likes you and do you want to know why? You're loud and obnoxious and you're an asshole".(Kyle expresses his feelings towards his friend during yet another emotional exchange).

The Climb is a remarkable, low key independent U.S. film. I'm not sure if Michael Angelo Covino and Kyle Marvin are re-enacting a key era of their relationship as thirty somethings, or if they have created a piece of pure fiction. I suspect the latter. They did after all co-write, produce and star in The Climb. But maybe there are some real life incidents along the way.

Together Covino and Marvin created a short, 8 minute film, in 2018, of two guys cycling up a hill, one in better shape than the other. Mike, the mate in better shape, reveals that he has slept with Kyle's wife to be. Kyle becomes furious but can't catch his best-man to be (or maybe not), he's too unfit. It's a great concept ... but even better is the fact these two artists decided to make a feature showing what happens next, in 6 chapters, over the next thirteen years.

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There are many truths to this depiction of a turbulent friendship. One can imagine a couple of close mates watching this feature together, nudging one another as a chapter, or better still scene, sparked common threads. The Climb is very much a fun, at times, laugh out loud social comedy. Some themes are quite serious, but you get a sense Covino and Marvin ask the question, is life better lived when sharing common experiences with a mate?

The Climb is a quirky, unique comedy. There is no big studio money involved, just a heart felt script which gives life and soul to every character (mainly Kyle's family/lovers), each with their own opinion of our central players' relationship. The Climb is fresh and very enjoyable. 10GUMS.